Shortly before 1:30 p.m., police and Secret Service agents told people in the restaurant they could stay or leave but would not be able to come and go during the president's visit.. Police and Secret Service blocked off the intersection of Detroit and Kingsley streets.

The president's motorcade arrived shortly afterward. With his suit coat off and U.S. Rep. Gary Peters by his side, the president ordered a Reuben sandwich, the presidential press pool reported.

"I'm going to take a Reuben. The president's buying," said Peters, D-Bloomfield Township.

Paul Saginaw, co-owner of Zingerman’s Delicatessen, is one of Ann Arbor’s biggest public proponents of an increased minimum wage. Ahead of the visit he said he had not heard the president would be coming. He also said he's not sure what influence Obama's speech will have on the debate as it pertains to Michigan's minimum wage.

It's not the first time the president has dined on Zingerman's food. In 2010, the gourmet food destination said it had communicated directly with the White House to fulfill an order for five sandwiches and five sides while the president was in Ann Arbor.

In the weeks before Obama spoke at the 2010 spring commencement ceremonies at the University of Michigan, Zingerman's launched a limited-edition presidential flavor: Baracky Road Gelato.

The flavor had been sold briefly during Obama’s inauguration in 2009. It’s based on vanilla beans from Bourbon Island, Madagascar; Virginian butter-roasted peanuts; marshmallows; caramel; and handmade chocolate chips.

The President met with three workers during his lunch, the press pool reported. They were Mira Friedlander, 22, a senior at the University of Michigan; Aisha Thurman, 36, a mother of three; and Graham Kovich,31 of Warren. All three work as servers in various metro Detroit establishments. All were advocating for an increase in the minimum wage.

Obama told them the reason they were at Zingermans was that the owner, Paul Saginaw, paid his workers above minimum wage.

"If workers are being paid well, they are spending more money and businesses have more money."

The No. 2 reuben at Zingerman's costs $16.50 for a full sandwich, $13.99 for a half sandwich.

Reuters White House Correspondent Jeff Mason tweeted this picture of the president's visit.